2001 BMW 740IL

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION

FCP GROTON IS RECALLING CERTAIN STEERING CENTER DRAG LINKS, P/N 32 21 1 096 057, SOLD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 9, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2001 BMW 740I, 740IL, AND 750IL PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SHAFT OF THE STEERING CENTER TIE ROD MAY SHEAR OFF.

TIRES:SIDEWALL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18-INCH TIRES. (18-INCH TIRES ARE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON THE M5 AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON THE 7-SERIES MODELS). THE MACHINE USED TO MOUNT AND INFLATE THE TIRES ON THE WHEELS AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OR MORE TIR

"TAKATA RECALL" MY CAR BRAKE LIGHTS JUST STARTED TO STAY ELIMINATED WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO ADJUSTS ON ITS ON UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE IS WHEN THE VECHILE IS IN MOTION ON ANY HIGHWAY

Mileage: 142,325

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULES IN THE BMW 7 SERIES FROM MODEL YEAR 1995 TO 2001 HAVE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULES THAT ARE FAILING AT A VERY HIGH RATE, LEAVING OWNERS WITHOUT AIRBAGS AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON. THE NEW MODULE FROM BMW IS $1400. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY TO CARS IN COLD CLIMATES.

Mileage: 71,000

LCD PIXEL FAILURE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WARNING INDICATORS UNABLE TO SEE SAFETY AND ENGINE WARNINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. .. UPDATED 12/2216 *BF *TR

Mileage: 101,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. .. UPDATED 12/2216 *BF *TR

Mileage: 101,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

START THE CAR POWER STEERING FROZE, I HAVE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT FIX THE PROBLEM OR I HAVE TO REPEAT. SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING STEERING FREEZE. I HAD HOSES LEAK, REPLACED HOSES STILL HAVE MORE LEAKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR UNSTABLE, I CHANGED TIRES PROBLEM REMAIN THE SAME. I CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND ALL IN GOOD CONDITION.

Mileage: 84,000

START THE CAR POWER STEERING FROZE, I HAVE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT FIX THE PROBLEM OR I HAVE TO REPEAT. SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING STEERING FREEZE. I HAD HOSES LEAK, REPLACED HOSES STILL HAVE MORE LEAKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR UNSTABLE, I CHANGED TIRES PROBLEM REMAIN THE SAME. I CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND ALL IN GOOD CONDITION.

Mileage: 84,000

START THE CAR POWER STEERING FROZE, I HAVE SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT FIX THE PROBLEM OR I HAVE TO REPEAT. SOMETIME WHILE DRIVING STEERING FREEZE. I HAD HOSES LEAK, REPLACED HOSES STILL HAVE MORE LEAKS. WHILE DRIVING CAR UNSTABLE, I CHANGED TIRES PROBLEM REMAIN THE SAME. I CHECKED ALL SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND ALL IN GOOD CONDITION.

Mileage: 84,000

NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILS (COMPUTER), I CHECKED ONLINE SEEM A LOT CAR OWNERS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHICH NOT EFFECTING NAVIGATION ONLY ALSO EFFECT THE AUDIO SYSTEM AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. MECHANIC ADVICE ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY AND I DID, PROBLEM STILL THE SAME. FOR A HIGH END CAR WITH LOW MILES SEEMS NOT RIGHT. A NEW COMPUTER NAVIGATION SYSTEM COST OVER $2000.00. SEEMS THE GERMAN DESIGN THOSE SYSTEMS TO FAIL TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESS GOING.

Mileage: 91,000

THREE YEARS AGO I BOUGHT AN AFTERMARKET CENTER STEERING LINK FOR MY CAR....MADE IN CHINA. AFTER THREE YEARS, I DETECTED SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THE CENTER LINK WHERE THERE SHOULD BE NONE. I ORDER A SECOND ONE AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THREE MONTHS I DETECTED PLAY IN THE STEERING LINK, NOT AS BAD AS AFTER THREE YEARS, BUT THERE SHOULD BE ZERO PLAY IN THIS PART. I REPLACED IT TODAY WITH AND OEM PART AND WANTED TO REPORT THE DEFECTIVE PART WHICH IS BEING SOLD IN HIGH VOLUME ON THE INTERNET (EBAY). I BELIEVE SHOULD THIS PART FAIL COMPLETELY, IT WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WILL RETAIN FOR A WHILE THE PART I REMOVED IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

COMMON DEFECT: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. SUSPECTED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. I'VE HAD 2 BMW'S FROM THIS SERIES - BOTH WITH THE SAME ISSUE - YET NO RECALL FROM BMW - WHY? ISN'T THIS A SAFETY SYSTEM? I SEE AIRBAG RECALLS ON CARS DATING BACK TO THIS ERA. WHY NONE FOR BMW? ALSO - ODOMETER RIBBON CABLE FAILURE CAUSING PIXELS TO FAIL. NO RECALL - PROBLEM EXISTS ACROSS THE SERIES FROM 1996-2001 AND BEYOND. NO FIX - NO RECALL - NO REPAIRS OFFERED. WHY? *TR

Mileage: 56,900

COMMON DEFECT: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. SUSPECTED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILURE. I'VE HAD 2 BMW'S FROM THIS SERIES - BOTH WITH THE SAME ISSUE - YET NO RECALL FROM BMW - WHY? ISN'T THIS A SAFETY SYSTEM? I SEE AIRBAG RECALLS ON CARS DATING BACK TO THIS ERA. WHY NONE FOR BMW? ALSO - ODOMETER RIBBON CABLE FAILURE CAUSING PIXELS TO FAIL. NO RECALL - PROBLEM EXISTS ACROSS THE SERIES FROM 1996-2001 AND BEYOND. NO FIX - NO RECALL - NO REPAIRS OFFERED. WHY? *TR

Mileage: 56,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740 IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 6 MPH, HE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAN CLUTCH WAS CAUSING THE COOLANT FAN TO SHAKE. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE COOLANT FAN COULD POSSIBLY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,600. UPDATED 01/20/12*LJ THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECAL # 01V206000. UPDATED 02/27/12

Mileage: 107,600

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THE PIXELS IN THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WERE PROGRESSIVELY FADING, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD. ONLY THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WAS DIFFICULT TO READ AND THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHETHER HE WAS DRIVING OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FAILURE WAS COMMON HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 83,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740 IL. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 2 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 24 TO 36 INCHES. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH EXTREME FORCE APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,390.

Mileage: 110,000

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 BMW 740IL. AFTER A MONTH OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE I STARTED NOTICING A LOUD THUMP FROM BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. I THOUGHT IT COULD OF BEEN A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT LATER ON A GASOLINE ODOR STARTED TO DEVELOP IN MY GARAGE PARKING SPACE. AFTER TAKING A QUICK LOOK UNDERNEATH MY CAR, I SAW MOISTURE BUILDING UP RIGHT UNDER THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK AND FUEL WAS SLOWLY LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. DOING SOME SHORT RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL BMW I OWN. HOWEVER, NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED. THIS ISN'T A BROKEN WINDOW REGULATOR OR A RADIO BUTTON THAT DOESN'T WORK. IT IS A SERIOUS, SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW 740IL. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE PREVIOUSLY ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS IN REVERSE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED DUE TO THE HIGH MILEAGE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO I STARTED SMELLING MILD GASOLINE FUMES EMANATING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY SOME SPILLAGE WHEN REFUELING. OVER TIME THE ODOR HAS BECOME STRONGER. UPON INSPECTION BY THE BMW DEALERSHIP IT WAS ASCERTAINED THAT A CRACK EXISTED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK AND SIGNIFICANT RUST WAS PRESENT. THESE DEFECTS ALLOW GAS TO SEEP OUT AND DRIP TO THE GROUND. THE AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THE DEALER VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NO ROAD/ACCIDENT DAMAGE TO THE AREA. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS FAILURE BEFORE. THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (7 YEARS/100,000 MILES). THE CAR HAS ABOUT 110,000 MILES. I ALSO SPOKE WITH BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY ALSO RETURNED THE SAME "VERDICT" MY CONTENTION IS FIRST THAT THIS IS A VALID AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH IN ALL LIKELIHOOD EXISTED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND, THAT BMW HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM BEC

Mileage: 100,000